School-Based Education

Elementary Education: Project Aware

Project Aware is MOCSA’s sexual abuse prevention education program for children in pre-k through 5th grade, as well as their parents and teachers. Project Aware educates students about body safety in an age-appropriate manner, and teaches adults about their role in preventing child sexual abuse. This program is available to schools in Missouri, and is offered in English and Spanish.

Project Aware creates an environment where children learn:

The difference between good, bad and confusing touches

Body safety rules and what to do if someone makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe

To identify trusted adults they can rely on for help

That the abuse is not their fault and telling a trusted adult may help protect them

Middle and High School Education

Middle & High School Education
Sexual violence is an issue that young people in all communities face, regardless of race, ethnicity or economic background. MOCSA’s education presenters reach students in more than 30 school districts in the Kansas City metro area, on both sides of the state line. Our educators communicate challenging subject matter in a manner that is engaging, informative, realistic, and age-appropriate. MOCSA’s presentations utilize a variety of teaching methods, including group discussion, lecture, question and answer sessions, and activities designed to enhance learning and behavior chance. Our free-of-charge presentations are available in both English and Spanish.

Multi-session and single-session presentations are effective in increasing knowledge and awareness in topics such as healthy relationships, sexual harassment, consent, media, and more. More information on Programs for Youth and the topics covered.

Green Dot violence prevention program focused on culture change. The program describes choices to hurt others as “red dots” while choices to help others are “green dots.” The program aims to overwhelm the school’s map with green dots so that fewer students are hurt. Green Dot uses training sessions with student leaders, staff, parents, and all-school programming to make a difference. There are two specific norms the Green Dot Program seeks to create in schools:

Everyone has a part to play in making sure school is as violence-free as possible for every student.

There are simple things that every student can do to help, even though things like peer pressure and fear might make them think they can’t get involved.

Teen Exchange is a multi-session sexual violence prevention program that encompasses each of the topics in the above link. The curriculum focuses on identifying and developing healthy relationships and preventing sexual violence. An abbreviated Teen Exchange is available in a "Pick Three" format. MOCSA educators suggest the following combinations.

Strength Clubs use multiple sessions to explore what young people think about their world, about themselves and empowers them to engage in healthy relationships and challenge harmful views of masculinity and femininity. Through a combination of positive role models and interactive educational sessions, Strength Club is a preventative education program designed to:

• Examine gender stereotypes and ideas about masculinity and femininity

MOCSA produced an original series of videos, using local high school actors, that opens the door for discussions with teenagers about the issues of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and bullying. The real student situations in Lockers help teens understand the causes and effects of the choices they make, and that something seemingly harmless can have serious consequences.

Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for sexual violence curricula, Lockers includes five 10-minute video segments that are designed to be shown in a facilitated classroom or other type of group setting. The accompanying study guide expands on the topics, offering suggested discussion questions, activities, handouts, surveys, statistics, frequent asked questions, and more.